The Parent Trap(29)

Enthusiasm brightened Kate’s eyes. She swung her bag off her shoulder and glanced around as if looking for place to put it.

“You can put your bag in my office,” she said. “But before you do, you need to let your dad know where you are and what you’re doing, okay? I don’t want him to worry.”

Her eyes dimmed, but she took out her phone and tapped out a text message on her way into Sarah’s office. She returned, still looking at the screen, nodding. “He says it’s fine.”

“All right then, let’s get to work. I’ll bring my laptop and the new inventory out here so I can work at the sales counter in case you want to ask questions.”

They both went to work, Sarah keeping an eye on the girl, amazed by the transformation. Kate moved purposefully from rack to rack, choosing items, holding them up together, changing her mind, returning a scarf, sweater or jacket to a shelf or rack, selecting something else. Her focus was intense and her choices were bang on. When she was finished, one window had a youthful, spirited feel to it. The other was as chic and understated as any of Sarah’s more mature patrons. Somehow Kate had picked up on exactly who her customers were, even though no one had come into the store while she dressed the mannequins and staged the windows.

Sarah shut down her laptop, put the last of the handbags on the display rack, and joined Kate at the windows “Great job. This looks incredible.”

For the first time since she’d met the girl, she saw what she felt was a genuine smile. “You really think so? Thanks!”

“Let’s take a look from the sidewalk.”

In front of the store, Kate pulled her phone from her jeans pocket and snapped a couple of photos.

“Does your store have a Facebook page?” she asked.

“No, I’ve never taken the time to set one up.” And never saw the point to having one.

“I can make one for you. Is it okay if I take some pictures inside the store?” Kate asked as they went back inside.

“Of course. Photograph anything you like.”

For the next few minutes, Kate wandered around the store, eyeing displays, angling her phone this way and that. Then she must’ve checked the time.

“Omigosh, I seriously have to go. I need to be home before my dad gets there. I, um, told him when I texted him that I’d be home before he was. So he’ll...he might worry if he gets there before I do.”

“I’ll be closing the store in half an hour,” Sarah said. “If you want to wait, send your dad another message to let him know when you’ll be home. You can get a ride with me.”

“Oh. Thanks, but that’s okay. I’ll walk.”

Sarah was tempted to say half an hour shouldn’t make a difference, especially since walking uphill in those shoes wasn’t going to be easy. Not your place, she reminded herself. Kate was now as anxious to get home as she’d been to help with the shop windows, and that parent-child relationship was none of her business. There was something she could do, though.

“You’ve done a wonderful job and your help means I won’t have to stay late tonight. How would you like to pick out one of these new handbags?”

“You mean I can take one? Like, for free?”

“Yes, you’re welcome to take one, and no, it’s not free. You’ve already earned it.”

Wide-eyed, Kate surveyed the new inventory. “I really like this one.” She ran a hand over a large black-and-white DKNY logo tote.

“Then it’s yours.”

“Oh, wow!” Kate surprised her with a hug. “Thank you so much. I’ll get my bag out of your office and then I’d better get going.”

Poor kid, Sarah thought, as she watched the girl leave the store, her own bag slung over her shoulder and her new one tucked inside a To the Nines shopping bag. There was a big hole in that girl’s life, and it seemed to her it was a gap only a mom could fill. Not that Sarah could replace Kate’s own larger-than-life mother, but she could be there for her with a female perspective and an understanding shoulder to lean on from time to time. And since Jonathan had all but admitted to being overwhelmed, he would probably be okay with that.

She turned her attention back to the task of closing up the store for another day. Although it had started as something of a disaster, it had turned into a good day after all, and now it was almost time for some real mother-daughter time.





CHAPTER SEVEN

ON THE WAY home from school, Jon swung by the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner. He’d had a very good day and he hoped Kate had, too, so he decided to celebrate with one of her favorite meals.

He wheeled a shopping cart through the produce section and selected fresh tomatoes, parsley, basil. He knew there was garlic in the pantry, but onions? Better buy a few in case they were out, and the makings for a salad, too. He moved on to another aisle and chose a package of whole wheat penne, a nod to Kate’s current healthy eating kick.